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Luca should have known.

The moment Damien offered to take him shopping—out of nowhere, mind you—he should have known something was up.

But like an excited fool, he had accepted without question.

Now, standing in the middle of an obnoxiously high-end shopping mall, Luca was realizing his mistake.

"This is a trap," he muttered under his breath.

Mochi, tucked snugly in the pet carrier Luca insisted on bringing, flicked an ear and gave him a judging look.

Damien, meanwhile, looked like he belonged here—a tailored black coat, sleek boots, and the perfect amount of smugness. He stood next to Luca with all the patience of a man who knew he was winning.

"You say that like I forced you out of the house," Damien said, glancing down at him with an amused smirk.

Luca glared. "You kind of did."

Damien simply shrugged. "You've been cooped up too long. And you needed new clothes anyway."

Luca crossed his arms. "I have plenty of clothes."

Damien's gaze darkened just a little. "I disagree."

Luca blinked. Why did that sound vaguely threatening?

Before he could argue, Damien took his hand and started walking, leading him deeper into the mall.

Luca had no choice but to follow.

Mochi, snug in his carrier, let out a little triumphant meow. Traitor.

The first stop? A ridiculously expensive boutique.

Luca groaned. He didn't belong here. The salespeople were already looking at him like they knew he was about to cause a problem.

But Damien?

Damien owned this place.

Not literally, but with the way he carried himself—head high, gaze sharp, aura deadly but expensive—he might as well have.

Luca rolled his eyes and muttered, "Pretentious rich boy."

Damien heard him.

And smirked. "Your rich boy."

Luca scowled. "That's not—"

"Oh? Want me to say it again?" Damien leaned in, voice smooth, teasing. "Your rich boy."

Luca turned on his heel. "I'm leaving."

"Ah, ah." Damien caught his wrist effortlessly. "Not until you try something on."

Somehow, Luca found himself in the dressing room with an absurd pile of clothes.

Outside, Damien sat on one of the boutique's fancy chairs like he owned the world.

Luca huffed. "I don't need all this."

"Humor me." Damien's voice was too entertained.

Luca rolled his eyes and begrudgingly put on the first outfit.

He stepped out.

And regretted it instantly.

Because Damien froze.

For the first time since they got here, his usual teasing smirk wavered. His sharp gaze dragged over Luca, slowly, deliberately.

Luca felt warm.

Unfair.

He crossed his arms. "Say something, rich boy."

Damien hummed, standing. He walked toward Luca, predator-like, slow and deliberate.

He leaned down, lips brushing just over Luca's ear.

"Mine."

Luca hated how much that single word made his stomach flip.

With several purchases in hand—mostly Damien's doing—they decided to take a break.

Luca should have expected chaos.

Because the moment he turned his back, Mochi disappeared.

Cue instant panic.

"Oh my god, oh my god, Damien, he's gone—"

Damien, always calm, always composed, merely sighed. "He's fine."

Luca turned on him like a storm. "HE IS A SMALL BEAN, DAMIEN."

Damien pinched the bridge of his nose. "He's a demon, Luca. He's fine."

"He is a precious angel and I WILL FIND HIM."

Which led to Luca running around the mall like a madman.

And Damien casually following behind.

Turns out, Mochi had simply wandered into another store...

...where the employees were now feeding him and offering him tiny gold-rimmed bowls.

Damien stood beside Luca, watching the scene unfold.

After a pause, Damien simply said, "This is why I don't bring him places."

Luca pouted. "He deserves the world."

Damien sighed, but there was a fondness in his eyes. "Yeah. I know."

Hours later, shopping bags in tow, Luca and Damien finally made their way back home.

Luca was tired but happy. Even if Damien had dragged him into luxury hell, he had to admit... it was nice.

Nice to be with Damien.

Nice to feel wanted.

As they set their bags down, Damien suddenly leaned down, pressing a soft kiss to Luca's forehead.

Luca blinked up at him. "What was that for?"

Damien smirked. "Just appreciating my sweetheart."

Luca grumbled, face heating. "You're so annoying."

But he didn't pull away.

And Damien?

Damien just smiled.

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